Cosmetic stick applicator



Oct. 30; 1962 E. P. TIBBITTS 3,061,084

COSMETIC STICK APPLICATOR Filed April 11, 1960 l. INVENTOR Ergm Rm ORNEY United States Patent 3,tl61,il84 COSMETIC STHIK APPLICATOR Ernest P. Tibbitts, Montclair, N..l., assignor to Bristol- Myers Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 11, 19nd, Ser. No. 21,3s3 3 Claims. (ill. zes ss) This invention relates to applicators or dispensers for applying cosmetics to the human body.

Solid and relatively rigid cosmetic compositions for use by rubbing or smearing on various parts of the human body are Well known. Such compositions are often housed and dispensed from a rigid cosmetic stick applicator wherein the cosmetic stick is axially siidable within the applicator. Many of the cosmetic sticks are in the form of alcoholic gels which contain alcohol, a gelling agent for the alcohol, an effective quantity of cosmetic and small quantities of water, perfume and coloring agents. Illustrative of cosmetics which are formulated as gelled sticks there can be mentioned deodorants, antiperspirants, anticharing compositions and soaps. in place of cosmetics such sticks may contain other materials which can be topically applied to the body such as insect repellents.

Although many different typed of cosmetic stick applicators are known, they often sutfer from various shortcomings. lllustratively, prior art applicators are fabricated from materials which permit solvents such as alcohol to escape from the composition, they often contain voids between the various parts which again permit solvents to escape and they are difficult to manipulate or diflicult and messy to use or store. Still other stick applicators are expensive to produce and require solvent tight welding of the various fabricated parts.

An object of this invention is to provide a one-piece single use cosmetic stick applicator which can be molded in a single operation on a high-speed automatic plastic molding machine.

Other objects of this invention include the manufacture of a cosmetic stick applicator which utilizes relatively inexpensive material, which has a minimum of permeability to solvents, which does not require mechanical fittings or welding, which is easy to use and store and which is relatively inexpensive to produce and assemble.

Broadly, the applicator of this invention comprises a relatively rigid tube having a discharge end, a flexible or crushable tubular container homogeneously and coterrninously attached to the rigid tube opposite the discharge end and a relatively rigid elongated base or skirt homogeneously attached to a lower portion of the rigid tube. Optionally the applicator can include closure means for the discharge end of the rigid tube. The applicator is molded from a solvent impervious elastomer which prevents seepage and loss of the cosmetic stick ingredients. The applicator can be molded in a single operation and since it is homogeneous it further prevents loss of the cosmetic stick ingredients. The base, which is preferably in the shape of a flared skirt permits easy access to the flexible tube for pushing the cosmetic stick upwardly as it becomes depleted.

The various features of the invention contributing to satisfaction in use, economy in manufacture and adaptability to various conditions will be more fully understood from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein identical numerals refer to identical parts and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the cosmetic stick applicator, including a friction fitting cap;

3,%l,fl84 Patented Oct. 30, 1962 FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the cosmetic stick applicator including a cosmetic stick partly housed there- Referring now to the drawings, a cosmetic stick applicator or simply applicator it} comprises a relatively thick and rigid tubular member 12 having an axial bore of substantially uniform cross section which is capped by a removable closure 14 at the discharge end. The lower portion or receiving end of the rigid tube 12 has a rigid flared skirt 16 which is homogeneously molded with the rigid tube 12. A thin crushable or inwardly foldable tubular container 18 is homogeneously and coterminously molded to the receiving end of the rigid tube 12. The crushable tube 1% acts in cooperation with the rigid tube 12 to house the cosmetic stick 2t}. Optionally, a relatively rigid plate or disc 22 is homogeneously molded to the lower or closed end of the crushable or inwardlyfoldable tube 18. The disc 22 has a diameter of no greater than that of the transverse cross section of the rigid or crushable tubes, so that it can be pushed inwardly within the tubes as the cosmetic stick 20 becomes depleted. After each use of the cosmetic stick it may be pushed back into the applicator by applying the cap 14 thereto, and at this time the member 18 will be unfolded to a certain extent. The applicator as shown in the drawings employs a cylindrical bore and a cylindrical cooperating cosmetic stick. However, the tubular members, cosmetic stick or the external configuration of the rigid tube 12 need not be of the shape disclosed in the drawings, but instead can be in the shape of an elongated ellipse or the like.

The cosmetic stick 20 is axially slidable in both the rigid tube 12. and the crushable tube 18. As the cosmetic stick 2% is depleted by repeated applications, it is moved upwardly by pushing on the closed end of the crushable tube 18 with the thumb or finger. The crushable tube is axially foldable upon itself as shown in FIG. 3. The flared skirt 16 provides a stable base for storing the ap plicator and permits easy access of the fingers or thumb to the closed end of the crushable tube.

The dimensions of the various parts of the applicator are not critical. Of course, it is necessary that the crushable tube 18 be flexible so that it can be rolled or crushed as the cosmetic stick is pushed upwardly toward the rigid tube discharge opening. Since the flared skirt 16 acts as a base for the applicator, it is preferable that it have sufficient rigidity to support the applicator without being unduly deformed. When polyethylene is used as the elastorneric material for molding the applicator it is preferred that the various parts have the following wall thickness: about 0.20 inch for the rigid tube 12; about 0.10 inch for the flared skirt-16; about .007 inch for the flexible tube 18 and about 0.20 inch for the cap 14 and the rigid disc 22;. Examples of fluid resistant elastomeric materials which may be used to form the applicator are polyethylene, vinyl chloride vinyl acetate copolymer, polyvinyl plastisols, polybutyl methacrylate, polytrifluoromonochloroethylene, neoprene rubber, synthetic rubbers, natural rubber, polyethylene-polyisobutylene compositions, polyvinylidene chloride, nylon and other thermoplastic polymeric compositions of matter which are relatively resistant to penetration by the cosmetic stick ingredients. If desired, the permeability of the applicator can be further decreased, particularly in the flexible tube 18, by coating the inner walls with solvent impervious materials such as Wax.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated in the drawings, it should be understood that the invention is not limited thereto; thus, the relatively rigid base or skirt 16 need not be homogeneously attached to the rigid tube 12 but instead can be spot Welded, glued, or detachably secured by means such as a friction fit, screw threads and the like. Gther modifications will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A homogeneously integral polyethylene cosmetic stick applicator consisting of a rigid cylindrical member having an axial bore of substantially uniform cross section and a discharge opening of substantially the same diameter as said bore, a crushable inwardly folda-ble cylindrical member having an axial bore of substantially the same diameter as the bore of said rigid member and of substantially uniform cross section, said crushable member being closed at one end with a relatively rigid homogeneously attached disc, said disc being transverse to the axis of the crushable member and having a diameter of less than the internal diameter of said crushable member, the wall thickness of said crushable member being less than half the wall thickness of said rigid memher, the open end of the crushable member being homo- 'geneously and coterrninously attached to the rigid cylindrical member opposite the discharge opening, a relatively rigid skirt homogeneously attached about the bottom portion of the rigid cylinder and extending outwardly therefrom, said skirt being of a length sufiicient to completely surround the sides of the crushable cylinders and providing an annular surface by which the applicator may be supported on a flat surface, and closure means for the rigid cylinder discharge opening.

2. An integrated, unitary cosmetic stick applicator formed of solvent impervious elastomeric material, which comprises a rigid tubular member having an axial bore of substantially uniform cross-section throughout its length and having a discharge opening at its outer end of substantially the same cross-sectional area, said member being adapted to receive snugly through its outer end a cosmetic stick of substantially the same uniform crosssection, a crushable, inwardly foldable tubular member closed at one end and having its other end open and permanently connected with the inner end of said rigid tubular member, said inwardly foldable member providing an extension of the axial bore of said rigid tubular member with substantially the same uniform crosssection, and a relatively rigid skirt permanently connected with said rigid tubular member adjacent said inner end thereof, said skirt being open at its lower end and surrounding said foldable tubular member in spaced relation thereto throughout the length of said foldable tubulaimember when the latter is extended by the introduction of the cosmetic stick to its full extent within the applicator, thereby forming a base for the applicator by which it may be supported in an upright position on a flat surface.

3. An applicator of the character set forth in claim 2 having a removable closure cap applied to the outer end of said rigid tubular member, said cap being adapted, upon application thereof to said tubular member to force the cosmetic stick into said rigid member and thereby unfold said crushable member to confine the upper portion of said cosmetic stick within said rigid tubular member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 770,215 Blatz Sept. 13, 1904 2,105,710 Wadel Jan. 18, 1938 2,208,744 Bergerioux July 23, 1940 2,608,320 Harrison Aug. 26, 1952 2,691,981 Jones Oct. 19, 1954 2,853,209 McArdle Sept. 23, 1958 2,854,133 Teller Sept. 30, 1958 

